Jewell Loyd Will Return for Aces Semifinal Game 3
The Aces face elimination tonight as they attempt to bounce back from a series deficit against the Valkyries.
Updated on Oct. 10, 2026 in Basketball
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The Las Vegas Aces will reinstate Jewell Loyd for Game 3 of the WNBA semifinals on October 9. The team currently trails the Golden State Valkyries 2-0 in the series after a narrow 83-81 loss in Game 2.
Why it matters
The Aces must win tonight to avoid elimination and force a Game 4. Loyd, who shot 46 percent from three-point range during this postseason, provides a necessary boost to an offense looking to recover from their recent two-point defeat.
Jewell Loyd re-enters the lineup with a 46% postseason three-point shooting percentage. The team aims to improve upon their Game 2 performance, which ended in an 83-81 loss despite holding a lead with two minutes remaining.
The players
Jewell Loyd
The Aces guard returns to the lineup for Game 3 after recording a 46 percent three-point shooting percentage this postseason.
Stephanie Talbot
The Aces player will operate under a minutes restriction for tonight's game after playing 21 minutes in Game 2.
Las Vegas Aces
The local WNBA franchise enters tonight trailing 2-0 in the semifinal series.
Golden State Valkyries
The team leads the semifinal series 2-0 against the Aces.
The details
Jewell Loyd will return to the court tonight, though she will operate under a minutes restriction. Stephanie Talbot will also play under a minutes restriction after logging 21 minutes in the previous contest. The team is adjusting its rotation to stave off elimination in this best-of-five series against the Golden State Valkyries.
Timeline
October 9, 2026: Game 3 of the WNBA semifinals takes place.
October 11, 2026: Potential Game 4 is scheduled at Michelob Ultra Arena.
Beyond the Strip
This series follows the standard WNBA best-of-five playoff structure, mirroring the pressure-packed scenarios of previous semifinal campaigns. The Aces must win tonight to extend the series and avoid an early exit from the postseason.
Fans planning to attend potential future games at Michelob Ultra Arena should prepare for increased traffic around the venue. The Aces must win tonight to ensure the series continues to a fourth game this Sunday.
The takeaway
The Aces face a must-win scenario tonight to keep their postseason hopes alive. Keep an eye on the minutes managed for both Jewell Loyd and Stephanie Talbot as the team attempts to overcome their 2-0 series deficit.
What happens next
The Aces must win Game 3 to force a Game 4, which is scheduled to take place at Michelob Ultra Arena on October 11.
Further reading
For more updates on the local professional basketball season, visit Basketball.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Las Vegas Review-Journal.
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